TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017 SPORTS After Masters, top players eye more majors AUGUSTA: Now that Sergio Garcia has Open, the British Open and the PGA my focus to trying to get ready for the his first major success in 74 attempts September. “That’s where the big tour- donned the green jacket for winning the twice, and he will fancy his chances later US Open in June and try to add to my had given him a taste for more. naments are. That’s where the tourna- Masters, top golfers are already looking this year in all of the majors, but espe- major tally there.” “The positive thing for me is I feel like ments that change your career are. So ahead to the next major challenges to cially at Quail Hollow, where he has won Dustin Johnson, who won the 2016 I have so much room for improvement,” this is the first one of four. come. The first stop is June 15-18 at Erin in 2010 and 2013 and lost in a playoff in US Open at Oakmont, will seek to Garcia said. “I’m 37, not 22, but I still feel “I feel motivated for the summer, and Hills, Wisconsin, for the US Open on a 2012. “I’m looking forward to getting defend his title at Erin Hills after being like I have a lot of great years in me. I will be moving on and setting goals course designed by architects to host back out there in a few weeks and just forced to pull out of the Masters follow- And I’m excited for those.” very quickly after this.” one of the sport’s toughest tourna- competing again and having another ing a freak accident. Top players who missed out on glory Another player who will be looking ments. Then it’s on to the British Open at chance to be in contention,” he said. Coming into the event as world num- at the Masters will be queuing up to join for redemption later this year will be famous Royal Birkdale, near Liverpool, “I think Erin Hills is a bit of an ber one, Johnson damaged his back in a McIlroy, Johnson and Garcia in Australian Jason Day, who came to July 20-23, followed by the PGA unknown to everyone. But Birkdale is fall on the eve of the tournament and Wisconsin and also at Birkdale and Quail Augusta National ranked third in the Championship at Quail Hollow in North one of the best Open courses that’s on withrew just minutes before he was Hollow. England’s Rose, twice a Masters world but had a disappointing outing Carolina from August 10-13. the rota. And going to Quail Hollow for scheduled to tee off for the first round. runner-up and a former US Open winner, by his standards, finishing in a tie for Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, the the PGA and I’ve had success there in “It sucks,” he said. is looking foreward to shaking off his 22nd place. world number two who finished in a the past. So nothing but positives ahead disappointment at Augusta National. Day won his first major title at the share of seventh at the Masters, said he I feel. “And my game feels in good shape. LOOKING FOR REDEMPTION “It’s going to sting for sure,” he said of 2015 PGA Championship and the 27- is keen to have another crack at the It’s just a matter of working hard and Garcia, who won the Masters in a the Masters defeat. “So I look forward. year-old Queenslander is expected to be majors. McIlroy’s wins include the US putting myself in position to win. I’ll turn playoff on Sunday from Justin Rose, said You know, for me, golf is about April to in the hunt for more this year. —AFP GOLF Garcia takes major title at last with Masters win AUGUSTA: Spain’s Sergio Garcia captured and hugged good pal Rose before walking his first major golf title on Sunday after 73 around the green to revel in the moment, failed attempts, making a birdie on the first pumping his fist and punching the green in playoff hole to defeat Justin Rose and win delight. “We were cheering each other,” the 81st Masters. Garcia said. “We wanted to beat the other Garcia took his emotional, long-sought guy not the other guy to lose.” triumph over England’s Rose, the 2016 Rio Olympic champion and 2013 US Open win- TRIBUTE FROM TIGER ner, after they finished deadlocked on nine- Garcia said he had lost hope of ever win- under par 279 for 72 holes at Augusta ning at Augusta, but “through the years I National. “Whew, it has been such a long learned to accept what Augusta gives and time coming,” Garcia said. “I felt a calmness I takes and that’s why I’m here.” On the 72nd never felt on a major Sunday.” regulation hole, Rose missed an eight-foot The 37-year-old Spaniard took the great- birdie putt, leaving Garcia a five-footer to est triumph of his career, and a $1.98 mil- win, but he pushed it wide right. “I thought lion top prize from an $11 million payout, I had it on 18,” Garcia said. “I hit it where I on what would have been the 60th birth- wanted.” Among Twitter notes of congratu- day of his idol, two-time Masters champion lations were: “I couldn’t be happier for and three-time British Open winner Seve @TheSergioGarcia. You deserve it all ami- Ballesteros, who died of brain cancer in go,” from second-ranked Rory McIlroy and 2011 at age 54. “It’s amazing,” Garcia said. “Congrats, well earned,” from 14-time major “To do it on his 60th birthday, it’s some- winner Tiger Woods. Garcia opened the thing amazing.” back nine with two bogeys and trailed by Last-group playing partners and friends two at the par-5 13th, where his drive land- Garcia and Rose were level for the lead at ed under a bush. He took an unplayable lie the start of what become a tension-packed penalty, then punched into the fairway. thrill ride of a final round. “It was a great But on the brink of disaster, Garcia bat- battle with Sergio all day,” Rose said. “If I tled back, salvaging a par at 13 and staying had to lose to anybody, it would be to two back when Rose missed a three-foot Sergio. He deserves it as much as anyone birdie putt. “I knew I needed to make that out here. He has had his fair share of heart- putt to stay with it. I knew I was playing break. I played well. He made a great come- well enough,” Garcia said. “That putt really ANAHEIN: Los Angeles Kings’ Marian Gaborik, of Slovakia, is defended by Anaheim Ducks’ Shea Theodore during the first period of an NHL hockey back.” Only three players had more major turned the clock a little bit for me. It got me game Sunday, in Anaheim, Calif. — AP starts without a victory than Garcia before more confident.” he donned the green jacket symbolic of The momentum had shifted and Garcia Masters supremacy after nearly two took full advantage, curling in a six-foot NHL decades of major futility. birdie putt at the 14th although Rose Garcia led by three strokes after five parred to stay one ahead. “I probably hit holes, fell two behind after 11, then roared one of the best 8-irons I ever hit,” Garcia back to force the playoff and sank a 15-foot said. “And I hit one of the best putts I hit all Oilers’ McDavid hits 100 points birdie putt to claim victory. week.” At the par-5 15th, Garcia blasted a “Even after making a couple of bogeys I tee shot beyond 300 yards then lofted his was very positive. I still believed,” Garcia approach off the flagstick, to set up a 15- mark, Ducks clinch Pacific title said. “There were a lot of holes I could get foot eagle putt that slowed before falling in to and I stayed positive.” to fist-pumping joy as the crowd roared. ANAHEIM: Shea Theodore scored 53 seconds scored a third-period goal for the Devils. minute of the second period. Josh Anderson Rose’s playoff tee shot soared deep into Not since Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal in into overtime to give the Anaheim Ducks the also scored for the Blue Jackets. James van trees right of the fairway but bounced out 1994 had a Masters champion eagled on Pacific Division title with a 4-3 win over the Los LIGHTNING 4, SABRES 2 Riemsdyk scored two goals for the Maple Leafs. onto pine straw while Garcia found the fair- the back nine in the final round. Angeles Kings at the Honda Center. The Ducks, Brayden Point ended an impressive rookie way. Rose could only punch out onto the Rose birdied to match Garcia, then who face the Calgary Flames in the first round campaign with his second multi-goal game of RANGERS 3, PENGUINS 2 fairway and scrambled to make a bogey birdied the par-3 16th only to bogey and of the playoffs, are the seventh team in NHL his- the week to lift Tampa Bay to a season-closing Jimmy Vesey’s goal with 12:37 remaining while Garcia put his approach 15 feet from remain deadlocked to set up the closing tory to win five consecutive division titles.